ONE SHOTS MARINA (ENGLISH)

19. Hurricane Lane

P.O.V. MAYA DELUCA-BISHOP

The morning was normal by Station 19 standards. I was at reception, adjusting the paperwork I needed to hand over to Shirley, the new accountant and sister of Chief Ross.

She had recently joined the team and, despite being serious and very focused, she was very efficient and even pleasant to work with. I checked the last document and signed it quickly, pushing it towards her.

- Here you go, Shirley. All right - I smiled, handing over the papers.

- Thanks, Maya - she nodded and took the documents, organizing them precisely before putting them in her briefcase.

Before I could say goodbye and get back to my shift, the station door opened with a bang. The imposing figure that entered made my stomach drop instantly.

Lane Bishop, my father, stormed through the entrance like a raging storm. His eyes were wide, and his jaw locked with a restrained rage that I knew all too well.

I froze in place, surprised and at the same time already anticipating the disaster to come. He shouldn't be here.

He never was, he never supported my non-Olympic career, and he certainly didn't know about my family, or at least, I didn't think so.

- Maya! - his voice echoed through the lobby, full of frustration and fury.

Shirley looked up from the table, clearly surprised, while I straightened my posture and took a deep breath. I needed to stay calm.

- Dad? What are you doing here? - I asked, trying not to let my unease show.

He advanced towards me, his eyes squinted in pure judgment.

- What am I doing here? - he repeated, incredulous - You dare ask me what I'm doing here after everything? After finding out that you have a son? A grandson I never knew existed?

My heart raced in my chest. He knew.

Somehow, he had found out about Liam, something I deliberately kept from him, knowing what kind of man he was.

- How did you... - I began, but he interrupted me, his anger growing with every word.

- I went to see the shack where your mother lives, girl. And there, what do I see? A photo! A picture of you and a child! My grandson! Do you think that's how I should find out? - he advanced, his voice getting louder.

My hands clenched into fists, and I could feel the heat rising through my body, like a wave about to explode. But I took a deep breath, trying to keep control.

My relationship with him had always been a battlefield, and the last thing I wanted was to fight in the middle of the season.

- This isn't a discussion for us to have here, Lane - I said, deliberately calling him by name. I'd outgrown the habit of calling him "Dad".

He snorted, indignant, and threw his hands up.

— Isn't it a discussion to have here? And where should it be then, Maya? Where is the right place for me to confront my daughter about hiding from me the fact that I have a grandson? - he turned to the other firemen who passed by, including Andy, who was close enough to hear the conversation.

She gave me a worried look and approached, trying to intervene.

- Mr. Bishop, why don't we take a breath and talk calmly? - Herrera said, always the voice of reason.

But he didn't even look at her. He was focused only on me, his anger clearly fueled by the sense of betrayal.

— I don't need to breathe, Captain. I need answers - he turned his gaze to me, his eyes piercing mine - You always disrespected me, always rebelled against everything I tried to build for you. And now, now you deprive me of knowing my own grandson?